Review by Actual Owner-Not Test Driver
Pros:
Smooth ride and handling, roomy, comfortable interior.
Cons:
Actual gas mileage lower than purported mileage; cheaply constructed rear drink holders.
The Bottom Line:
This is a great, reliable, innovative, eye-catching vehicle.
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Author's Review
I went into the Nissan dealership all set to buy a Maxima, but then the Murano caught my eye. It had a similar sticker price to the Maxima and similar estimated gas mileage, and a lot more desirable features.
The first word that comes to mind while driving the Murano is comfort. Contributing to this comfort are the 18-inch wheels.They make for an attractive and comfortable drive. The driver's seat can be adjusted in several ways to adapt to the driver's preferences. It can remember the seating preferences for two drivers. Before you exit the vehicle, the driver's seat pushes back to allow more room to exit. Upon re-entry the seat pushes back up into position. The brakes and accelerator pedal are adjustable along with the tilt steering wheel.
The control panels are fairly intuitive. There is a front dual-zone climate control so that the driver and passenger can each set their own desired temperature. The rear passengers get an average of the two temperatures. The cd player can hold 6 discs at a time, and 15 radio stations can be programmed into the presets. The sun roof can open at intermittent levels and the rear can tilt open as well.
I understand that the engine is derived from the same one used in the Altima and Maxima. The continuously variable transmission also contributes to a remarkably smooth, quiet ride.
This model must be generating a lot of interest, because I have never been asked by so many people how I like my vehicle as I have with this one. I have two disappointments with this vehicle. Before purchasing it I asked an owner about his gas mileage. He said that he was only averaging about 17 miles per gallon, versus the 20/25 estimate offered by Nissan. I asked the salesman about actual mileage experience and he said that his customers were reporting even better mileage than the 20/25 estimates. My experience has been exactly the same as the other owner that I asked - 17 miles per gallon. My other disappointment is the cheap quality of the rear drink holders. A passenger bumped into mine and easily broke off a piece of its plastic. Upon presenting this problem to the dealer, he said that it was not covered under warranty and would cost $380 to repair it because the entire console would have to be replaced.
Overall, I like the Murano very much. It rides like a luxury sedan, but it has a great deal of passenger and cargo room.
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